16 Feb Interview With The Queen Of Make-up- Charlotte Tilbury

What are 3 top tips you have for women who want to be successful in their careers?

You need to be professional, dedicated and hard working.

You’ve taken over the makeup world and your brand is constantly growing, how did you get to where you are today?

I have been dreaming of creating my own makeup brand ever since I was at school – I was always the one doing makeovers on my friends, recommending the right makeup to give with different outfits and how to style their hair. With more than 20 years experience as a Make Up Artist, working backstage at Fashion Weeks and with celebrity clients, from Kate Moss and Kim Kardashian to Miranda Kerr, Amal Clooney, Kate Bosworth and Jennifer Lopez, I’ve always been driven to share that Red Carpet Ready makeup magic with all women, not only celebrities and models.

How do you keep your health and energy up with such a busy career?

I try to eat well and take plenty of supplements and homeopathic drops. I always start the morning with a mug of hot water and lemon to detoxify and cleanse – it’s a trick I picked up backstage at Fashion Weeks – all the models swear by it.

As a successful woman you inspire a lot of women to follow their passions and live their dreams. Is there somebody who has been an inspiration to you throughout your career?

I met my mentor while I was growing up in Ibiza – the amazing makeup artist Mary Greenwell. After training in makeup artistry at the Glauca Rossi, I started assisting Mary and that’s how I started my career. It was during the iconic 80s and 90s Supermodel era of Linda Evangelista, Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford and Christy Turlington – it was an incredible time to start in the industry!

You’ve been known to say that makeup empowers women, how has makeup empowered you in your own life?

I discovered makeup when I was 13 and I haven’t looked back. I started wearing mascara after I saw school friends wearing it, and overnight everyone – from ages 7 to 70 – reacted to me in a very different way – I was more popular and I felt more confident. It changed my life. At first I thought that was a depressing realization and then I realized that makeup is about empowerment – it gives every woman the opportunity to be her best self. When you look good, you feel good and the world reacts to you differently. Since then, no one has ever seen me without makeup on! I definitely wouldn’t have the life and career I have without it.

What makeup items do you take with you in your handbag?

Filmstar and Glow – it’s a must-have and I always carry it with me! A lot of women are afraid of it but contouring is your best friend – it’s the best way to give yourself an instant facelift!

I’m a mascara obsessive so my Full Fat Lashes mascara has to be one product I couldn’t live without.

I’m never without my Rock N Kohl pencils. They’re a unique hybrid that glide on like a liquid but can be smoked up like a kohl for seriously sultry eyes – Kate Moss is a huge fan.

For a good skin day every single day I swear by my Magic Foundation for flawless, poreless coverage.

I’ll cover any imperfections with my magic The Retoucher pen to freshen up the skin and then give my eyes an instantly wide-awake look with my Mini Miracle Eye Wand.

What’s the best way to prepare your skin before an important event?

I always start makeup
with my award-winning Magic Cream. It’s a miracle skin saver full of patented anti-age ingredients, including a hyaluronic acid booster that lifts and plumps up your complexion. I follow with my incredible soft focus flash beauty primer Wonderglow to disguise and transform drab, sleep-deprived Before running out the door (or getting out of that taxi!) I always slick on my K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipstick in Penelope Pink, it’s my go-to shade skin.

For women who don’t like to wear makeup, what would you say to them to convince them to try adding makeup to their daily routine?

Part of the reason I launched my brand was because I was shocked that 50% of women don’t engage with makeup. The reasons are they don’t know how to use it, they don’t know what suits them or they don’t have the time. I wanted to set my brand apart from this by creating an easy to choose, easy to use collection – just choose one of my 10 iconic looks and go.

You recently did makeup for the 73rd Golden Globes, which was the favourite look that you did?

Tilbury kept herself very busy prepping stars like Eva Green, Alicia Vikander, and January Jones. Like always, the artist created effortlessly radiant looks that will surely serve as inspiration for our own makeup this year.I loved creating the looks for the gorgeous Alicia Vikande and Eva Green for this year’s Golden Globes – they all looked incredible! It’s impossible to choose a favourite look, I truly loved them all. For Alicia Vikander I wanted to create a dreamy but modern look that highlighted Alicia’s naturally beautiful features and complement her white Louis Vuitton gown. The metallic shades on her eyes complement her drop-dead-gorgeous dewy, fresh skin.

On your website you’re constantly sharing your knowledge to help women recreate celebrity makeup looks at home. What is the biggest difference between how your celebrity clients would apply their makeup and the everyday woman at home?

The honest truth is that despite how glamorous they appear – celebrities and models are people just like you and me – they wake up with the same problems – tired, dull, dehydrated skin, spots etc. and they want the same things from their makeup – to create a fresh, natural daytime look that plays up their best features and an alluring, glamorous evening look that will turn heads, whether it’s for a date or on the red carpet. Beauty is not an exclusive club – every woman can be beautiful and look her best – and celebrities and models understand the power of makeup and know which assets to dial up and which to play down. This is the reason I created my brand, to bring that Red Carpet Ready makeup magic to every woman! I’m inspired to share everything I know about the power of makeup.

We would love you to come visit us down under! Do you have any plans to come to Australia?

Darling, I would love to! Hopefully that is something that will happen soon. I love Australian women’s free spirited sense of style and their natural beauty. Watch this space!